Where can you smoke weed in Scottsdale?

Short answer: private property, with the owner's OK. That's it. Arizona law bans smoking cannabis in any public place or open space, and Scottsdale is a resort town where most of the nice places to stand are either public or owned by somebody with a strict smoking policy. Old Town patios, the canal path, the golf course, your resort balcony: all usually a no.

That sounds like a buzzkill, but it isn't. Scottsdale is full of backyards with pools and mountain views, and the people who live here sesh at home, then go out. Visitors who plan for it have a great time. Visitors who don't end up hotboxing a rental car in the Fashion Square garage, which is both illegal and kind of sad. If you need the legal basics first, start with is weed legal in Scottsdale.

Prop 207 lets adults 21+ consume on private property, and it also lets property owners say no. So the real rule is: your place, your friend's place or a rental whose owner allows it. A backyard in South Scottsdale, a patio in McCormick Ranch, a casita out by Pinnacle Peak. If the owner is cool with it and you're out of public view, you're good.

A couple of local wrinkles. A lot of Scottsdale neighborhoods are HOAs, and apartment complexes often write smoke-free rules into the lease. Prop 207 lets them set their own rules on their property, and they do. If you rent, read the lease. If you own in an HOA, smoke in the backyard, not the community pool.

Front yards and driveways are a gray area people overthink. If your neighbors and the street can see you, you're asking for a complaint. Take it to the back patio.

No. Arizona's adult-use law sets up licenses for dispensaries, growers and makers, but it has no license for consumption lounges, and smoking in a public place stays off limits. That means no legal smoke lounge in Scottsdale, Phoenix or anywhere else in the state. Dispensaries can't let you light up on site either.

Every so often you'll see a ticketed party or a "cannabis friendly" event pop up around big weekends. Those usually run on private property. Use your judgment and don't confuse a private event with a licensed lounge, because there isn't one.

Scottsdale is resort country, and almost every resort and hotel here bans smoking anything on property. That includes rooms, balconies, pool cabanas and the fire pit by the lawn games. State law backs them up: private owners can ban cannabis on their property, period.

We couldn't find a single Scottsdale resort or hotel that publicly calls itself cannabis friendly, so we're not naming any. If one tells you in writing that it allows cannabis, great. If not, read the smoking policy on your booking before you show up with a bag of pre-rolls.

What people staying at resorts usually do: hit a friend's house or a rental before dinner, or keep it to edibles. More on that below.

This is where most visiting groups end up, and it's the best option you've got. A rental house with a pool and a backyard, booked by a crew in town for spring training or a bachelorette weekend, is basically the Scottsdale version of a lounge. The catch is that the host makes the rules.

Booking platforms let hosts list whether smoking is allowed, and a host can say yes to tobacco and no to weed, or no to everything indoors and yes on the patio. Read the house rules, and if they're vague, message the host and get the answer in writing. A "smoking allowed outside" rule is the one you're looking for.

Keep it mellow with the neighbors. Scottsdale requires short-term rentals to carry a city license and a reachable emergency contact, and the city is aggressive about party houses that bring police calls and complaints. A loud bachelorette sesh at 2 a.m. with smoke drifting over the wall is how a rental gets reported. Smoke out back, keep the speaker down, and nobody cares.

When you're stuck somewhere you can't smoke, edibles are what a lot of people reach for. No smoke, no smell in the drapes, no awkward conversation with the front desk. You still have to follow the property's rules and keep it on private property, but a gummy before a spa afternoon or a gallery walk in the Arts District is a classic Scottsdale play.

Arizona adult-use edibles come in servings of no more than 10 mg of THC, with up to 100 mg in a package. Start with one serving, eat some real food, and give it time before you take another. Everyone's tolerance is different, so if you've got health questions, ask your doctor.

You'll see people sneaking a vape on the canal at the Scottsdale Waterfront or passing a joint on the Greenbelt. It happens. It's also a petty offense under state law, and Scottsdale's city smoking ordinance covers vapes and e-cigs in public places and city facilities on top of that.

The list of no-go spots: Old Town sidewalks and bar patios in the Entertainment District, city parks and the Greenbelt, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve trails, golf courses, resort grounds and any car, moving or parked in public, driver or passenger. Ballparks and casinos on Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land are out too, since the Community's code keeps use out of public places and Community facilities. National forest land, like Bartlett Lake in the Tonto, is federal territory where state legalization doesn't apply.

The desert is no joke in summer. A backyard sesh at 3 p.m. in July is a bad plan even with misters running. Go early or go after sunset, when the pavement cools and the mountains turn pink. Morning coffee and a joint on a shaded patio is a whole different experience.

Keep water on the table, not just margaritas. Find shade before you light up, because sitting in direct sun while stoned turns into sitting in direct sun while stoned and confused. Pool days are great, but plan who's watching the group and who's driving later. Lighters, carts and edibles left in a hot car can get wrecked fast, so bring them inside.

In the cooler months, everything opens up. Fire pits, patio dinners at home, late nights in the backyard. That's peak Scottsdale.

The local rhythm is easy. Reup with your favorite flower or concentrate, head back to your place or the rental, sesh in the backyard, then grab a ride into Old Town for food or a show. Let somebody else drive. You keep your stash at home and nobody has to explain anything to anybody.

Need ideas for after? Check where to eat high in Scottsdale and things to see.